KIDWCKED
02-28-2010, 03:28 PM
c\p By Roy MacGregor, The Globe and Mail Posted Saturday, February 27, 2010 1:03 AM ET
VANCOUVER - Time to prepare for the Battle of the 49th Parallel.
Once, that is, we bring the national blood pressure down to at least dangerous levels following Friday night's heart-stopping, down-to-the-final-second 3-2 win over a surprisingly stubborn Slovakia.
But it's going to be Canada against the United States for Olympic hockey bragging rights again - just as it was eight years ago in Salt Lake City.
Canada won the gold medal back then but Sunday will be up against an American team on a roll, one that already defeated the Canadians 5-3 in earlier tournament action.
"No better place for a rematch," said Canadian forward Dany Heatley as he left the ice.
"There's nothing better than a U.S.-Canada rivalry," added teammate Jonathan Toews.
The U.S. will see a different Canadian team tomorrow, more cohesive following this dying-minutes test against the Slovaks and its jaw-dropping 7-3 win two days earlier over pre-tournament favourite Russia.
Nor, on the other hand, will it be the same U.S.A. team, still undefeated after a surprising 6-1 win over Finland earlier yesterday - a game so lopsided legendary Finnish star Teemu Selanne said he wished he'd been curling instead.
American skill against Canadian will; Canadian drive against American speed; and may the best team win in what is expected to become the most-watched hockey match in the history of the sport.
VANCOUVER - Time to prepare for the Battle of the 49th Parallel.
Once, that is, we bring the national blood pressure down to at least dangerous levels following Friday night's heart-stopping, down-to-the-final-second 3-2 win over a surprisingly stubborn Slovakia.
But it's going to be Canada against the United States for Olympic hockey bragging rights again - just as it was eight years ago in Salt Lake City.
Canada won the gold medal back then but Sunday will be up against an American team on a roll, one that already defeated the Canadians 5-3 in earlier tournament action.
"No better place for a rematch," said Canadian forward Dany Heatley as he left the ice.
"There's nothing better than a U.S.-Canada rivalry," added teammate Jonathan Toews.
The U.S. will see a different Canadian team tomorrow, more cohesive following this dying-minutes test against the Slovaks and its jaw-dropping 7-3 win two days earlier over pre-tournament favourite Russia.
Nor, on the other hand, will it be the same U.S.A. team, still undefeated after a surprising 6-1 win over Finland earlier yesterday - a game so lopsided legendary Finnish star Teemu Selanne said he wished he'd been curling instead.
American skill against Canadian will; Canadian drive against American speed; and may the best team win in what is expected to become the most-watched hockey match in the history of the sport.